Montclair State University (MSU) has received an accolade worth bragging about. The school was recently named the top public institution in New Jersey and one of the nation’s leading public universities by the Wall Street Journal.
Montclair State was named the No. 1 public school in New Jersey. The school also placed No. 29 among public universities nationwide and No. 67 overall out of 584 colleges and universities that were evaluated in the Wall Street Journal/College Pulse 2026 Best Colleges in the U.S. rankings.
The rankings, compiled by the Wall Street Journal and College Pulse, weigh several student outcomes such as graduation rates, learning environment, diversity and financial success after graduating. Analysts for the ranking placed strong emphasis on an institution’s ability to improve graduate’s earning potential when compared with other schools.
According to the report, an MSU graduate can expect an average salary boost of $34,013—meaning the cost of attendance can be recouped in as little as one year and seven months.
“Montclair State University is redefining what it means to be a top-tier public university,” said President Jonathan Koppell. “To be ranked among the Wall Street Journal’s top 30 public institutions in the nation—and first in New Jersey—is a powerful affirmation of our mission: providing an excellent, accessible education that delivers real results for our students.”
Montclair’s new ranking is nothing to scoff at. The school placed above several major universities with national name recognition, including Duke University, UCLA and the University of Florida.
It is the first time MSU has been recognized within the top 30 public institutions in the Wall Street Journal list, underscoring the university’s growing national profile and focus on access, inclusion and career outcomes.
The New Jersey Digest is a new jersey magazine that has chronicled daily life in the Garden State for over 10 years.